AuthorTopic: August 5, 2017 Twin Cities meet (Read 8369 times)

Eating my own crow regarding planning a meet very early, but I'd like to gauge interest and potentially coordinate since there was some discussion in another thread of timing the Alaska and Twin Cities meets for those who might drive out to Alaska and attend both.

I realize that this is the same timeframe that cl is considering for a Southeast Adirondacks meet, but I am limited in my available time window for heading out to Minnesota.

Itinerary is TBD and may be determined by another poll. That said, if there is anything those of you interested in a Twin Cities meet would like to see, please share.

EDIT:Date: Saturday, August 5, 2017Time: 12:30pm CDTLocation: the Parking Ramp (local vernacular for garage) at The Shops at West End, St. Louis Park, MN. Access it from Duke Dr between Gamble Dr and W 16th St. We'll meet on the 3rd level of the ramp/garage as close to the 394 end as possible. This should be a fairly safe place for folks to park as we do the tour, which I've estimated will take about 5 hours total.

We will begin by driving and then seeing the recently completed MN 100 upgrade (last segment of that route to be upgraded from its original 1930s/40s configuration). We will then drive part of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes parkway system enroute to the river bridges. We will begin with the historic (National Register and all) Mendota Bridge near Fort Snelling and work our way up the Mississippi, either driving over or walking onto most of the Mississippi River bridges in Minneapolis, concluding with the newly replaced Lowry Ave Bridge.

Time permitting, we will then do a drive by of the just-completed MN 610 freeway, then head back to the start point. My 5 hour estimate above includes this MN 610 leg. For those into that sort of thing, my current plan for MN 610 would net the following clinches: MN 252, MN 610 west of MN 252, MN 101, and US 169 from US 10/MN 101 to I-394.

There will not be a formal lunch for this meet (hence the 12:30 start). However, I plan on doing lunch at the nearby Noodles & Co. around 11:30am, and those who would like to join me are more than welcome to do so.

I selected all four options, but I'm curious as to whether any of them are around the time of the Minnesota State Fair. There's an annual event that's usually held in conjunction with the state fair that I'd like to attend if the meet is in the same time frame.

Unfortunately, it's not. Minnesota State Fair is always the 4th Thursday in August through Labor Day. Because of that timing, we're unable to head west for the fair because our Fall semester has already begun by then.

Unfortunately, it's not. Minnesota State Fair is always the 4th Thursday in August through Labor Day. Because of that timing, we're unable to head west for the fair because our Fall semester has already begun by then.

I voted for the first and last as I want to be at this one. Minneapolis is one of those places I've always wanted to visit. I'll wait to schedule mine until after you guys settle on a date. I'm a little more flexible as I live 45 minutes from the site.

That being said, I won't be there if it's the middle two options. TRB paper deadline is August 1 and, if it's anything like last year, I will be in the office virtually 24/7 starting around the 20th until late on the 1st. My preference, thus, would be an August date, but I could probably make mid-July.

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Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or any of its partner agencies.

Not going to select a date because I live here, but some side things that could (but probably not) influence your vote:

-If you're a baseball fan, the Twins are home the weekends of the 22-23 and 5-6. The team sucks but the stadium is one of the best in baseball.-Minneapolis Aquatennial festival is July 19-22 if you want to go Friday or Saturday night post-meet (the fireworks on Saturday night are a huge event).

So then don't try to make the two work together. The Twins' ballpark is one my father and I still need to visit so if this meet is a weekend they're in town it's a slam dunk for us (but not if July 15-16, my sister's wedding is that weekend). Meanwhile I'm not driving all the way to Alaska, and my fiancée will be with me for that and my father won't, so if I do both it'd have to be two separate trips anyway.

I've decided on August 5. Details will be TBD pending research, MnDOT's summer construction schedule, and any interest in non-road activities.

As I noted in my previous comment, the Twins have a home stand that weekend, against the Rangers. The Saturday game time is still TBD, but in the event that day doesn't work out, and for those who may come into town the day before, the Friday evening game is at 7:10 CDT.

As for what will be part of the meet, I'll leave that in part to interested attendees. I'll put a poll out later inquiring as to what folks may be interested in seeing or going to.

Even with the eclipse later that month (which I'm going to Grand Island for) this meet should be high on my priority list for attending - even if I have to compensate by missing sections of it to allocate funds.

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Scott O.

Not all who wander are lost...Ah, the open skies, wind at my back, warm sun on my... wait, where the hell am I?!As a matter of fact, I do own the road.Raise your what?

I'm not in a position to go all-in on meet attendance the way I was a few years ago, but this one's been on my radar screen since you announced it. Given that I've never been to the Twin Cities before and I have very only been in Minnesota once, I'm very interested. I'll pencil it on on the calendar.

Not committing myself to any pre- or post-meet activities, since that will quite likely depend on how I route my trip and where I stay the night before and night after, but I'm definitely out for a baseball game. MLB hasn't gotten a dime from me since the 1994 strike and never will again (and that's still hard for me, a lifelong Reds fan, to accept, but they lost me by going on strike.)